Mark Ruffalo Blasts Gavin Newsom & Donald Trump Over Warner Bros. & Paramount Merger Victory
Mark Ruffalo has openly criticized Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, after a settlement cleared a major legal hurdle in the Warner Bros. merger. He shared his reaction on social media, continuing his opposition to the latest merger.
Ruffalo reposted a statement from Alvaro Bedoya, which criticized the settlement and argued that the deal would benefit billionaire owners and their allies of the US president. The outspoken actor added his own message to the post, writing, “Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies.”
While his post did not provide details about Newsom’s role in the settlement, reports indicated that he pushed behind the scenes for California to settle the antitrust case. According to the Los Angeles Times, Newsom took Paramount’s threat to leave California “seriously” and advocated for a settlement behind the scenes.
What is the latest update with the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger?
Paramount Skydance reached a legal settlement with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other U.S. states on September 21, 2026. The agreement clears the final major barrier to Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for $110.9 billion.
Under the settlement, the company agreed to invest $1.5 billion in film production over five years. They also committed to releasing at least 30 films annually in theaters, with financial penalties if it fails to meet that commitment.
The merger also faced opposition from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), but they have now settled. In a statement, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison said the concerns raised by state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had been addressed. He added that the merger now had “complete clearance” and that the company looked forward to putting its commitments into action.
While that clears the way, a federal judge has yet to officially approve the merger. However, the latest settlement will help Paramount avoid the “ticking fee” of $7 million a day to Warner Bros. shareholders if the deal doesn’t close after Sep. 30.
Source: Comingsoon.net